The Home Office has published updated guidance for small accommodation businesses to help ensure compliance with fire safety legislation and make premises safe from fire*. The ‘Making your small paying guest accommodation safe from fire’ guide replaces the previous ‘Do you have paying guests?’ guide.   This guidance will come into effect on 1 October 2023.

This guide gives simple and practical advice to assist persons with responsibilities for fire safety in paying guest accommodation with simple layouts, limited fire risks and a small number of bedrooms designated as guest sleeping accommodation for short-term lets. The fire safety principles and recommendations in this guide can also be applied to holiday caravans and lodges.

The guide takes the form of guidance and recommendations to support the application of fire safety legislation, including advice and a template about completing a fire safety risk assessment.  It is a legal requirement to carry out a Fire Risk Assessment if you provide tourist accommodation in England, regardless of business size.

*Check your fire safety responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)